WWII Cloverleaf's color

[Zwoodman]

All,

What is the color of the WWII cloverleaf's? OD or Black? Are they different between powder and projectile?

Thanks,

Zane

[DesertRick]

Zane,
I'm the guy who supplied your museum with some of your cloverleafs (DesertRick - Say HI to Gordon for me). All the 75mm HOW cloverleafs that I've found where I can still see some color are black. The 155mm Propelling Charge cloverleaf has some black on the inside lip, but the 105mm is too rusted to see any color. I'm getting this info from the few cloverleafs I have that were partially protected from the elements. I also have a few endcaps that look new and they're black too. Now, I'm not sure if they were gloss or matte, but I'm leaning towards gloss. I bought a spray bomb of black gloss spray paint and it looks pretty close in color to the interior of the other endcaps. 70+ years of desert exposure might have taken some of the gloss off. I think that if you just went with a gloss or a semi-gloss black, you'll be fine.

Now...I know it's not artillery, but do you or anyone out there have any info on the center rod for the 81mm Mortar (M37A1)? These were short mortars, about 14-1/2" in length. The cloverleaf ends (I think) were the same as the 75mm/81mm (long) Mortar cloverleafs. The difference being is that the short mortar cloverleafs had a back to back center section (it's pictured below). That hole is 5/16", so the rod can be no larger than that. The length was probably about 30"-35", as the cloverleaf held 3 rounds above the center cloverleaf and 3 rounds below. It was secured with the rod that was threaded at both ends, with washers and wing nuts. Any info would be appreciated.

Now a shameless plug of what I'm selling....CLICK HERE

Rick

Underside of 75mm HOW / 81mm Mortar (M37A1) Cloverleaf


Inside of 81mm Mortar (M36A1) Center Cloverleaf


Color/Sheen comparison of Spray Bomb Gloss Black (large 105mm HOW endcap in center) vs original undersides of various other endcaps


Another angle